ROCKETS NOTES: New world for Snyder

For his first game with the Rockets, guard Kirk Snyder returned to the site of his first NBA game, enjoying the reminder of how far he has come since his rookie-season struggles with the Jazz.

"Hopefully, that's an omen, but it's just imperative that I play hard," Snyder said. "It's kind of fun to play against the team that I played for. I'm grateful I've been able to resurface like I have. It's the opportunity of a lifetime to go back to Utah with another team and play.

"I got to do that last year, but it's not that I'm trying to prove anybody wrong. My job is just to win ballgames. I didn't get to play in Utah, but now I get to play with a great organization like Houston. It's a great opportunity."

Snyder played in 66 games with the Jazz, starting seven, before he was traded to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets for Gregg Ostertag. After starting 45 games with the Hornets, he was dealt to the Rockets for cash.

After playing for two teams in two seasons, Snyder said he feels he has found a home after the Rockets picked up the fourth-year option on his contract last week.

"It's the right move for the organization," Snyder said. "It's a great feeling for me. I've been on two teams in two years. It was imperative that I get that option picked up because I don't want to be bounced around. If I work hard and I do what I'm supposed to do, I can stay here."

Illini reunion

Guard
Luther Head
did not have to pick up the phone to know why his Illinois coach,
Bruce Weber
, was calling Wednesday.

With the Rockets facing the Jazz to open the season, the top four scorers from the Illini's Final Four team of two seasons ago — Head (15.9) and Utah's Dee Brown (13.3), Deron Williams (12.5) and Roger Powell (12.0) — were all in the building.

"We all went out to dinner last night," Head said. "It was fun. Coach Weber said it will look weird to see us all out there. I don't know how much time Dee or Roger are going to get (both were inactive), but it's always fun to play against Deron, so we'll see."